Starting apparatus for gas-engines



(N0 Modem JJW. RAYMOND. STARTING APPARATUS FOR GAS ENGINES.. 7 No. 531,807; Patented Jan. 1, 1895'.

a H t I B H -4 F (9' B M Witnesses.- fizvenmr:

ED STA S;

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. RAYMOND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

STARTING APPARATUS; FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,807, dated January 1, 1895.

Application filed May 29, 1893- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. RAYMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Starting Apparatus for Gas- Engines; and Thereby declare the following specification and the drawings therewith to be a full, clear, and exact description of my invention and the method of applying the same.

My invention relates to what are called internal combustion engines, impelled by explosive vapor or gas ignited in the cylinders thereof by means of electrical apparatus, or heated tubes, but in either case requiring that the charges be compressed by action of the engine before ignition can take place, consequently requiring some auxiliary means of starting the engines before the explosive impelling power can be applied.

The object of my invention is to avoid the expense and risk of starting such engines by hand, auxiliary power, or supplemental engines, as has hitherto been the custom, also to render such gas or vapor engines more simple, and to occupy less space.

Theinvention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas or vapor engine, provided with my improved starting apparatus, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the starting apparatusitself, showing all the parts in their respective relations.

Similar letters of reference are employed to designate like parts when they appear, in both figures.

The engine consists of a cylinder A, a combustion chamber B, and a base frame 0, in which the crank and crank shaft are inclosed. The valves are of the rotative kind, operated by a spur wheel D seen on top, and connected by suitable gearing with the crank shaft E.

Gas is drawn in through the pipe F, and air through the pipe G, and when mingled are ignited in the combustion chamber B by an electric current passing through the wires H, and by electrodes in the combustion chamber in the usual manner.

I is the crank wheel of the engine, having Serial No. 475,939- (No model.)

a mark J to indicate the position of the crank and the piston when the engine is to be started. M is the starting apparatus shown also in enlarged section in Fig. 2.

The device which forms my present invenof three separable parts N, O and P, screwed together as shown, the nipple or end Q communicating with the combustion chamber B of the engine, a cock B being interposed to prevent the back flow of gas and heat when the starting device is not in use. In the section N of the starting tube M is a chamber S to receivea cartridge T filled with gunpowder, preferably of a slow-burning grade. At the outer end of the cartridge T is a detonating gun-cap or capsuleWto contain a fulminate that can be exploded by the pin hammer U, the latter having a blunt point V that enters and crushes the fulminate cap or capsule W. This ignites the charge in the cartridge T, the same as in firing a common gun.- The pin hammer U is held back by a spring X that bears on the collar Y, which collar also prevents any leak of gas around the pin U. The end of the pin U protrudes at Z so as to be struck by some light instrument when the charge in the cartridge T is to be exploded. When the pin U is driven in and the charge exploded, a volume of gas is discharged into the combustion chamber B, in proportion to the size of the charge and the power of the detonating mixture employed, creating an expansive force on the piston of the engine sufficient to start it for one or more revolutions, until regular charges of gas or vapor and air are drawn in through the pipes G and F, and the engine performs its normal cycle of operations in the usual manner.

When the engine is started, the section 0 is unscrewed from the nipple N, and a new cartridge T is inserted ready for use when the engine is to be started again.

In respect to the starting tube M, it is obvious that its functions are the same as that of the cartridge chamber in firearms, and

any of the well known methods of inserting,

locking and discharging the cartridge, can be applied in carrying out my invention. I have shown here the most simple means such as have been practically applied, but reserve the right of such modification in the construction tion consists of a containing tube composed starting devices will not be exposed to the heat of the burning gases when the engine is working, in the manner substantially and for the purposes herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WV. RAYMOND.

WVitnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, WILSON D. BENT, Jr. 

